Redknapp and Grant: Bitter rivals in the game, best of friends away from it

Harry Redknapp is desperate for West Ham to stay in the Premier League and believes his good friend Avram Grant is the man to steer them to survival.

The pair's rapport has not been affected by the tense relations between their clubs this season and they will have dinner next week once tomorrow's derby between Tottenham and West Ham at White Hart Lane is decided.

During matches, Redknapp wears his heart on his sleeve more than his Upton Park counterpart, yet he retains substantial admiration for the Israeli's management style.

"Avram is calm," said Redknapp. "He doesn't shout and holler but then you don't have to. He just looks at the game and understands it.

"Just because you shout and scream, it doesn't mean you know what you're shouting about.

"I get on well with Avram. He's a good guy who knows the game and I'm pleased they're picking up. I want to beat his team tomorrow but I don't want to see West Ham relegated.

"We speak at least a couple of times a week. I'm sure we'll have a cup of tea after the game to have a chat about what's gone on and then I'm sure we'll meet up for dinner next week.

"I see him keeping them up. You have to say that they suddenly look strong. Their midfield looks good.

"Gary O'Neil was a great signing for them, a good player I had at Portsmouth who has an excellent attitude and works hard.

"You look at who else they have: Scott Parker, Mark Noble, Thomas Hitzlsperger. It's strong. Demba Ba is scoring, Wayne Bridge is one of the best left-backs in the country and was one of the best signings in January.

"Then you have Robert Green, who is different class in goal. Matthew Upson is experienced in defence and I like James Tomkins. So they've got some good players there."

Redknapp also believes Grant's staff complement his own skills, something that might prove decisive as they fight to stay in the top flight.

The 64-year-old sees the addition of the abrasive Wally Downes, who joined the coaching team in November, as a particularly shrewd move for the club. "Avram took Paul Groves to West Ham from Portsmouth and Paul is a quiet lad but a really great coach," Redknapp added. "The goalkeeping coach, David Coles, also went there from Portsmouth and he is very good indeed.

"Wally Downes is also a top-class coach but a completely different character from the others. He is a really strong personality and it means that what they have there is a good blend."

West Ham beat Tottenham 1-0 in the Premier League fixture at Upton Park last September, yet it has been off the field that the clubs' most significant battle has been fought, where the Hammers have won the right to move into the Olympic Stadium after the 2012 Games.

Throw in the acrimony created by Spurs' signing of Eidur Gudjohnsen in January last year and their attempts to recruit Parker last summer and it is easy to understand why there is little friendliness between the respective hierarchies.

Yet Redknapp, a player and a manager for West Ham, still has a strong affection for the club. "All I said about the stadium issue was that I wouldn't want to watch football in an athletics arena," said Redknapp.

"I thought that regardless of which club would have won that bid.

"It's very important for them to stay up in the Premier League and I really want them to. I was at West Ham when I was 15 and lots of my friends are supporters of the club.

"It's still a fantastic football club, with a great atmosphere for home games and a brilliant support, so I have nothing but happy memories of my time there."

Redknapp revealed today that Ledley King is likely to be out for at least "a few weeks" after suffering a setback in his recovery from a groin injury.

Grant on Redknapp. . .

As far as Avram Grant is concerned, any discussion about who should succeed Fabio Capello as England coach is already superfluous because Harry Redknapp is a shoe-in.

Grant, a former coach of Israel, does not subscribe to the view that the Football Association's choice should always necessarily be an Englishman but in this case and in his opinion, Redknapp stands head and shoulders above all the rest.

The Tottenham manager and his West Ham counterpart forged a close friendship at Portsmouth - a relationship that will certainly survive tomorrow's meeting between their clubs.

"Harry would be great for England because he knows all about the tradition of the game in this country," said Grant. "I would never say that your national coach has to be from the home country. I believe in a good coach no matter where he comes from. A good foreign coach can be good for England. I believe Sven-Goran Eriksson did great things when he was in charge. It is the quality which is important.

"At this time for England, though, the man to follow Fabio Capello should definitely be Harry. He will get the best from those top England players and he is a man for the big game.

"There is no doubt in my mind that the FA should choose Harry. It will be good for England. Whether it will be good for Harry, you need to ask him.

"It's not an easy job being a national coach and I can tell him about this if he asks. You need different thinking because the players only come together for a few days and you don't have time to correct some things.

"There is no doubt he deserves that job, though. He has proved himself in this country, he has the experience, the knowledge, the enthusiasm like crazy - he has everything."

Grant's team have picked up seven points from their last three Premier League games but remain in the relegation zone and face a side also anxious for points as they chase fourth place and a return to Europe's elite competition.

Spurs' debut season in the Champions League has gone beyond many of their fans' expectations with their journey to the quarter-finals including victories over both Milan sides.

While Grant is full of praise for Redknapp - also getting his first taste of the competition this term - he says the work of the White Hart Lane board has contributed to the success.

"Tottenham are a very good team, especially at home, but I think we have shown in the last month that we are not an easy team to play," he said.

"I was not surprised that Tottenham have achieved so much in the Champions League this season because Harry is the manager and the club itself is organised very well - you can learn a lot from the way it is run.

"What surprised me a little is, for their first year, how well they have adapted to the situation. To see them in the last eight in their first year in the Champions League - I don't remember that happening too many times before.

"Perhaps Harry will tell me how he has done it. I talk to him a lot but this week a little less. For me, it is always nice to sit down and talk with him. He is a good man to speak with because his life is football and once we begin to talk, it can go on all day. He just loves football."

It was during their year together at Portsmouth - Grant was technical director before leaving for Chelsea in July 2007- that the Israeli saw first-hand how Redknapp worked.

That season saw Pompey finish ninth in the Premier League and the following campaign they won the FA Cup.

Grant added: "He has a very good eye for players. Everyone speaks about the good football that his teams play and he likes positive players.

"He doesn't like to over-complicate things but he gets the best from his players and he wants always his teams to play football for the supporters.

"I don't think two managers think exactly the same but Harry believes in good football, positive football and I believe in that as well.

"I agree with him that, if you play positively and you have the right players to do that, then the results will come."